hiya, i was wondering if anyone knows what could be wrong with my sewing machine...when i thread it, and start to sew, the thread breaks and curls up into the other threading areas of the machine in a big knot..

the best way to make a costume fit is to take your measurements and add at least 3" to your measurements (that is to allow for the seams, this will be a tight fit though) also allow for hems and seams on all your cuts. it is better to cut way to large and alter if it is too big.

Came across this term the other day, and didn't find it on sewing.org.

What is a French-felled seam?

I don't know if it's the same as a French seam or a flat-felled seam, or if it's a French seam that's been ironed over and then sewn (felled?).

This page has a picture and talks about it a little bit (http://www.amefird.com/puckerwoven.htm), and although I'm usually good with understanding diagrams, I can't quite figure out how one would actually sew that. All the searches in google for "how to" and "french felled" kept bringing up references of a "how to repair your outdoor equipment" book review. :/

EDIT: Ok, I think I figured it out (I took some paper and folded it and pretended it was fabric).

How useful is this stitch? It seems rather permanent, and only for something that you know fits exactly due to the way it's folded over. I think they might be handy on something like a yukata or kimono since it's very straight lines with little variation.

How useful is this stitch? It seems rather permanent, and only for something that you know fits exactly due to the way it's folded over. I think they might be handy on something like a yukata or kimono since it's very straight lines with little variation.

Does anyone use French-felled seams?

The only time I've used this stitch was in making some camping gear with a friend of mine. It's great for attaching 2 pieces of fabric that will be under tension. For example: we made a shelter out of 2 rectangles of silicone impregnated nylon and the seam connecting them (the ridge) was a flat-felled seam. I'll hopefully have some photos once we seam-seal the ridge. We're also making a sleeping bag that will use a flat-felled seam.

Costuming-wise though, I'm not sure how often I would use this technique.